Thought everyone here might like to read and be reminded of this: Opinion: A final toast for the Doolittle Raiders - CNN.com
The same thing is happening to the many bomb groups that started up in 1942-43. I am an honorary member of the 451st BG and the ranks have steadily thinned until reunions are doubtful now.
When I was a resident, I arranged to have my geriatric rotation at the Naval Home in Biloxi, Mississppi. It was so awe inspiring and humbling every day to care for these last men who had been on Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor, sailed gunboats up the Yangtzee, and everything to former Vietnam POWs. Yes, most all are about gone now, but what an honor it was to help care for them and have the blessing of hearing their stories. If one is ever in Biloxi, the Naval Home might be worth a visit.
Last year I had the pleasure of attending a presentation at Paine Field in Everett, WA that featured Col. Saylor (now one of the four survivors) and Jimmy Doolittle's granddaughter. Very interesting and inspirational!
All of the " kids" that were in my outfit who I have been able to keep contact with are all gone and I am only 87. There are vets who are in their 90's and still carrying on but they are thinning out pretty fast. It's amazing how fast time has scurried along.
My dad's college roomate was in one of those B-25's... did not come home. Never knew about the goblets. I don't remember his name offhand, and my dad is no longer around either.
Doolittle's story is amazing. Schneider Cup winner, Tokyo, 8th AF. Scared the pants off the Japanese in 42. Did some calculating and if you were 17 in 1945, you were born in 1928. That makes the youngest WW-II vets around 85. Losing them quickly. Glad you are still going strong, Bob. My mother was born in 1925 and she is still going strong, too. Dad was born in 1921 and died in 2003, right after attending an 86th FBG reunion at WPAFB.
Taz, i just returned from my annual VA physical at the local VA clinic. When I was waiting in an exam room for my shingles shot a nurse popped in and looked at me, looked at my folder, and left. Ten minutes later another nurse popped the door open and looked , saying, " Humm", and left. When the doctor came in I asked him what that was all about and he said that they had not seen a WW2 vet. " I have been here a year and you are the first one I have seen", he told me. Kind of a weird feeling and supports the conversation re fading numbers on the roster.
Only 4 remaining, only 3 were able to attend. This is apparently their last 'Toast'... Doolittle Raiders are flying West... Final toast to WWII Doolittle Raiders: 'Peace'
In 2002 my wife gave me a first edition of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo". Of course the Raiders had been my heros since I was a kid. I managed to locate David Thatcher (Ship #7) and called him up. He was, and glad to say still is, a wonderful and kind man. He didn't mind chatting with me and I asked him if he would sign my book if I sent it along. He put a nice note in the book and it's something special to me. I sent him back a nice bottle of New York State maple syrup and, the gentlemen that he is, he sent me a thank you note. Image Unavailable, Please Login
+1 Baby Boomers such as myself really truly can't appreciate the life-experiences the Great Depression and WW2 presented, all within less than 10 years.
